Nigerian Pensioners under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) have threatened to shut down the operation of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) if the government failed to pay the balance of their 33 percent pension increase within 21 days.
National President of the Union, Dr. Abel Afolayan issued the warning while addressing a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
Afolayan also called for review and approval of the National Minimum Pension for pensioners by the federal government alongside the on-going negotiation for the approval and implementation of a National Minimum Wage for Nigerian workers
He said: “Suffice it to say our request is in line with the provisions of sections 173 (3) and 210 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which unambiguously states that ‘pensions shall be reviewed every five years or together with any Federal Civil Service salary reviews, whichever is earlier’. The last pension review was in July 2010. The next one, in line with the provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) was due in July 2015.
“Despite our efforts and submissions, nothing has been done in compliance with the above constitutional provisions. This is the reason why the union has been very vocal and unrelenting in restating its position on the call and demand for a new minimum pension alongside the on-going negotiation for a new minimum wage which by all indications will soon be implemented by the federal government.
“It is, therefore, our humble request, in accordance with the above constitutional provisions that a uniformed national minimum pension be approved for Nigerian pensioners to be the same as any minimum wage.
“In other words, whatever amount is approved as the minimum wage for workers should also apply as minimum pension for pensioners. We believe that whatever is good for the Goose is also good for the Gander, as both workers and pensioners go to the same market for their daily needs.
“Regrettably and pathetically too, many pensioners today earn as low as N4,000 per month which is nothing to write home about. With the present economic situation in the country, it is unacceptable and in fact inhuman for a pensioner to earn less than N30,000 which is not even enough to cater for his needs.
“We would like to emphasize again that whatever is finally approved as the national minimum wage should equally apply to pensioners as national minimum pension with a corresponding circular, clearly stating minimum pension (QED), and not after the release of the minimum wage circular the union would begin to run helter skelter in pursuance of the release of the pensioners circular as experienced in the case of the 2010 minimum wage and pension review.
“It is also important and imperative to add here that state governments should take a cue from the federal government that whatever is the final agreement reached by the tripartite committee as minimum wage, same should apply to all state pensioners as minimum pension in accordance with section 210 (3) of the 1999 Federal Constitution (as amended).
“For justice and fairness, and in line with the spirit and letter of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria, sections173 (3) and 210 (3), minimum wage and minimum pension should be the same. This is our position, this is our demand.”
Speaking on long overdue payment of arrears, Afolayan added, “The payment of the balance of this arrears is long overdue. We had made several submissions and appeals at different fora to the federal government through PTAD for this payment but to no avail.
“The leadership of the union, therefore, can no longer contain the anger of its members who have been spoiling for a showdown with the federal government over the non-payment.
“Consequently, and having been pushed to the wall, we are compelled to issue a 21-day ultimatum to PTAD in compliance with the extant labor laws after which if no payment is made, pensioners would embark on a protest to picket PTAD and other relevant offices connected with this payment.
“I do hope that immediate action would be taken to effect the payment in order to make such a course of action unnecessary, and as a mark of respect for us the elderly and senior citizens of this country.”
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